Concealed thumb tack



May 10, 1932.

W. J, MALONEY CONCEALED THUMB TACK Filed March 27, 1951 Patented May 10, 1932 i'rso STATES.

PATENT orFicE 'WILLIAM J. MALONEY, or ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT, -ASSIG-J.\TOR or ONE-TENTH: To WILLIAM J. MALONEY, .73., on ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT CONCEALED THUMB TACK Application filed March 27, 1931. Seriallfil 'o. 525,663.

This invention relates to'new and useful improvements in securing or fastening means of the type including a pointed part or' element adapted to penetrate into a supporting part or surface asfor example; a post, Walor the like. i

An object of the'invention is to provide a means as stated-and including a housing in which the pointed or penetrating element or part of the securing means is normally concealed and from which it is adapted to be readily projected.

Another object is to provide a securing means including a housing open'at opposite ends and a pointed "or penetrating element normally disposed within the housing and having a head or operating portion projecting through the one end of the housing and adapted to be'manipulated, to project the pointed element at the opposite end of the housing, the head being colored or ornamented, as by a fraternity insignia, or plain as desired. t

A further object is to provide a securing means including a housing and a pointed or penetrating element, a spring means being provided for normally holding the pointed element within the housing but to permit the element to be projected from the housing for operation. I

An additional object is to provide a fastening or securing means as stated and which may be secured to a hat or other article of apparel to be used for hanging or securing the same to a wall or the like.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is illustrated. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims to which claims reference is to be had for a definition of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the application of the invention to a hat, portions of the hat being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale showing theinner construction of the improved securing means; I

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3'3 of Fig. 2; and Y Fig. 4 is a view partly in section andpartly in side elevation showing a slightly modified construction of securing means. f Referring in detail to the drawings, and first 'particularly to Fig. 1, the'inventionor 9 the securing means of the inventionis shown as applied to ahat 5 including a crown 6 and abrim 7. Secured or attached to the brim 7 and'to the crown 6 are a pair of attaching or securing means 8 the construction of which is fully shown in, theother view. The mannerof mounting or attaching thesecuring means 8 to the hat will later be described in detail. However, the. function of this means is to secure the hat to a wall'orthe like as suggested at 9, the securing means including a pin or pointed element adapted to be pressed lntothe wall. p

The securing means 8, as clearly shown by. Figs. 2 and 3, includes a substantially cylindrical casing or housing 10 having an open- 1 ing through its upper or end wall 11. The end wall 12 opposite the wall 11 is provided with a central opening 13 and this wall includes an extension or nipple 14 forming an open neck or throat 15 adapted to have its free end turned over as at 16v whereby to clamp portions of the hat brim 7 between said turned overportions 16 and the wall 12 to secure the housing to the hat brim. Obviously, the housing may be similarly secured to the crown of the hat or to'some other article offclothing.

Arranged within the housing lO is a pin v or pointed element or part 17 having its upper or blunt end portion knurled or roughened as at 18. Secured on the blunt portion ofthe pin 17 and inwardly of the blunt end thereof is a button-like part or member 19.0f audiameter to snugly fit through the opening in the wall 11 of the housing andcarrying a flange 20 adapted to engage the inner surface of the wall 11 to prevent movement of the button out-of the housingh This button or member 19 may be of wood or bakelite-or othear material colored and ornamented if desire V Secured on the extreme end of the blunt portion of the pin 17 and enclosing said portion as clearly shown in Fig. 2 is a relatively small button or block 21 which may as shown be of a diameter less than the diameter of the button 19. The button or block 21 may be ornamented if desired and may be made of wood, bakelite or other material and maybe colored to contrast with-thecolor of the button 19. Also, if desired, the outer end of the button 21 may have a fraternity emblem or other insignia formed or secured thereon.

The flanged portion or the flange 20 of the button 19'is ofsuch .diameter that it is reciprocatable within. the housing 10. andwill assist in maintaining thebutton against rock ing movement during reciprocation'of the button. Further, the fit of the button 19 through the opening in-the wall 11 of the housing is such that the button willnot rock.

' The locationofthe button 19 is such as to hold the pointed'element or pin 17- in alignment 2 with-the. opening 13 and. throat 15 through the bottom or end wall 12 of theca'sing.

Within the housing or casing 10 and surroundingthe pin 17 is a light coil spring 22. At one end thespring 22 bears against the inner surface of the buttonll and at its opposite end' the spring bears against the inner surface of the wall 12 of the housing. Therefore, it will be seen that the action of the spring 22'will be such as to maintain the pin 17 in" its retracted position or within the housing. The pin may be projected fromthe housing by pressing on the upper or outer button 21 whereby to compress the spring and, of course, the pin may be projected from the housing and into a wall'or the like whereby to secure the entire device and a hat or other garment to which it may be attached, to the wall orlother support.

Of' course, after the. pin. has been projected, as forexample, to secure. a hat to a wallor other support, and has then been withdrawn from the support, the spring 22 will act to retractthe. pin or to draw the pin into the housing as stated above, but a light springis eml ployed at. 22- the spring being only of the strength required to move the pin into the housing and not being of sufficient strength to draw the pin out of awall or other support;

I have provided means to prevent the accidental or casual operation of the button 21 in such amanner as to project the pin 17. This means asherein' disclosed comprises a lever member 23 pivoted to the" lower wall 12 of the housing intermediate the ends of the lever as at 2 1. The lever includes an enlarged portion orhead= 25 and an operating end or hand po'rtion26 projecting through a slot 27 in the housing; It will be clear that the lever 23 may be shiftedfrom the operative full. line sary to move the lever 23 about its pivot 24 and to a position toward one side of the housmg. a

In Fig. 4 a slightly modified form of the inventionisshown, the securing or fastening means as shown in this figurebeing particularly adapted for the hanging of pictures or the like. In this figure the nipple or extension la does nothaveitsfree end portion turned over and is externally screw threaded asat'2 8. Threaded on to the nipple is an externally tapered or inclined ring 29, the ring being preferably fully threaded on to the nipple whereby the enlarged end surface. of the ring abuts the outer surface of the end wall 12 of the housing 10.

The securing means as shown in Fig. 4 alsoincludes the safety lever 23- and the coil spring 22 as in the other forms. of theinvention and the pin 17 is also adapted to be pro.- jected by pressure applied .to the outer end of the button 21. When the device is applied to a wall or thelike, as suggested by the dotted lines 30 in Fig. 4, the pin 17 will,'of course, be projected to its dotted line position of Fig. at and the frictional'engagement of the pin with the material into which it has penetrated will support the housing and prevent retraction. of the pin by the spring 22. Since the clined a picture wire or other supporting means 31 will naturally assume a position against the wall 30 as shown in Fig.4.

In either form of the invention, the housing-10 may be provided with one or more vent openings 32 and it will be seen that when-the device is applied to a crown of a hatas shown in Fig. 1 there will be an air passage from the interior of the hat. It will further be understood that the invention may be used in connections other than those suggested herein and by the drawings, and it will also be apparent that the ring 29 of Fig. 4 might be used to clamp some article or material against the outer surface of the wall 12. ofthe housing whereby to attach the securing means to the article or material. I

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a securing means, a housing, open at one end, a pointedelement, means serving to normally retain said element within the housing, means adapted to be operated to project the element through the open end of the housing and into a support to mount the housing on the support, and means for securing the housing to an article to be supported.

2. In a securing means, a housing open at one end,a pointed element, means serving to normally retain said element in an inoperative position within the housing, means adapted to be operated to project the element through the open end of the housing, and shiftable means adapted to be disposed in the path of the pointed element to prevent operation thereof and adapted to be moved out of the path of the pointed element to permit operation thereof.

3. In a securing means, a housing open at one end, a pointed penetrating element, means serving to normally retain said element within the housing, means adapted to be operated to project the element through the open end of the housing and into a support to attach the housing to the support, and said housing at said open end including means for clamping an article to be supported against the housing.

4:. In a securingmeans, a housing open at one end, a pointed penetrating element, means serving to normally retain said element within the housing, means adapted to be operated to project'the element through the open end of the housing and into a support to attach the housing to the support,

said housing having a tubular extension thereon providing a restricted passage communicating with the opening in the end wall of the housing and through which the point- 7 ed element may be projected, and said extension adapted to be passed through and turned over to clamp an article to be supported against thehousing.

5. In a securing means,a housing open at one end, a pointed element, means serving to normally retain said element within the housing, means adapted to be operated to project the element through the open end of the housing and into a support to mount the housing on the support, said housing having a tubular extension thereon providing a restricted passage communicating with the opening in the end wall of the housing and through which the pointed element may be projected, said extension being screw threaded, and an externally tapered ring adapted to be threaded onto the extension.

6. In a securing means, a housing open at opposite ends, a pointed element, said element having a head projecting through one of the open ends of the housing, a coil spring within the housing and surrounding the element and at one end bearing against said head and at its other end against a Wall of the housing whereby to normally retain the element within the housing, said head having an enlargement to limit the extent of movement of the head outwardly of the housing,

and said head adapted to be pressed to compress the coil spring and project the pointed port, and said housing having openings therein at the opposite side of the article and communicating with the open end of the housing to provide for ventilation. V

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

WILLIAM J. MALONEY. 

